Rogue
Rogues rely on skill, stealth, and their foes’ vulnerabilities to get the upper hand in any situation. They have a knack for finding the solution to just about any problem, demonstrating a resourcefulness and versatility that is the cornerstone of any successful adventuring party.
People who work in he shadows. Rogues count thieves, assassins and criminal amongst their number, but that doesn’t mean rogues are necessarily villains. They also include spies, scouts and swashbuckling pirates.
Rogues are people who lives secretive live. While some choose this lifestyle for their own gain, others become rogues as a result of societal persecution or perhaps they’re the last surviving member of a royal family, hunted by their parents enemies.
Rogue Archetypes
Subclasses for rogues are called archetypes, just like fighters. A roguish archetype represents the reasons and nature of their skills.
Click images to zoom
Arcane Trickster
Some rogues enhance their fine-honed skills of stealth and agility with magic, learning tricks of enchantment and illusion. These rogues include pickpockets and burglars, but also pranksters, mischief-makers, and a significant number of adventurers.
An alternative form of magic user. Using magic for personal gain, or just for fun.
Click images to zoom
Mastermind
Your focus is on people and on the influence and secrets they have. Many spies, courtiers, and schemers follow this archetype, leading lives of intrigue. Words are your weapons as often as knives or poison, and secrets and favors are some of your favorite treasures.
This class is all about unravelling mysteries and solving crimes. Finding villains hiding amongst the public in diguise.
If you want your character to be a detective, this is for you!
Click images to zoom
Scout
You are skilled in stealth and surviving far from the streets of a city, allowing you to scout ahead of your companions during expeditions. Rogues who embrace this archetype are at home in the wilderness and among barbarians and rangers, and many Scouts serve as the eyes and ears of war bands. Ambusher, spy, bounty hunter – these are just a few of the roles that Scouts assume as they range the world.
Rogues who’ve developed their skills for military of adventuring purposes. Sneaking amongst enemies to help you allies gather info.
An option for players who want a rogueish solder.
Click images to zoom
Soulknife
Most assassins strike with physical weapons, and many burglars and spies use thieves’ tools to infiltrate secure locations. In contrast, a Soulknife strikes and infiltrates with the mind, cutting through barriers both physical and psychic. These rogues discover psionic power within themselves and channel it to do their roguish work. They find easy employment as members of thieves’ guilds, though they are often mistrusted by rogues who are leery of anyone using strange mind powers to conduct their business. Most governments would also be happy to employ a Soulknife as a spy.
Rogues who use psychic powers, making a guard not notice them, moving the pins in a lock with their mind and even psychic energy weapons!
Click images to zoom
Swashbucklers
You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. While some warriors are brutes clad in heavy armor, your method of fighting looks almost like a performance. Duelists and pirates typically belong to this archetype.
A Swashbuckler excels in single combat, and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent.
Think Pirates of the Caribbean or the Three Musketeers. Adventuring swordsmen, swinging from chandeliers and sliding down bannisters.
Click images to zoom
Thief
You hone your skills in the larcenous arts. Burglars, bandits, cutpurses, and other criminals typically follow this archetype, but so do rogues who prefer to think of themselves as professional treasure seekers, explorers, delvers, and investigators. In addition to improving your agility and stealth, you learn skills useful for delving into ancient ruins, reading unfamiliar languages, and using magic items you normally couldn’t employ.
One of the classic rogue archetypes, alongside assassins.
These guys don’t have to just be burgulars, many theives use their skills for noble purpose, getting information from villainous forces, uncovering evidence, rescuing kidnapped kids or maybe liberating some valuable jewellery and giving it a better home!… and if they get rich at the same time… what’s the harm?